North Carolina State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute plan to join the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Tree Genetics to broaden the research agenda and to create an Advanced Forestry Research I/UCRC with leadership shifting from Purdue University to North Carolina State University. The center will build on traditional strengths by conducting research on; managing nutrient availability in intensively managed plantations, modeling stand growth and development, reforestation using superior genotypes, genetics and tree breeding to improve the quality of plantations, and genetic engineering as a tool for promoting forest productivity and ecological safety.